The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-15

Fire and Police Commissioners shall
advertise daily for one week, or more,
for such proposals for the work 10 be
done, materials to be furnished, or
service to be performed; aod shall
open the BIDS in the presence of the
Board OF Public Works, and shall en-
ter the same, with the names of the
bidders, in book TO be kept fer that
purpose, open TO the inspection Ct the
taxpayers; and said bids are to renal
open for at least one week before any
OF them is accepted; and the contract
is TO be let to the lowest responsible
bidder, etc, and no contract shall be
made which does not receive the as
sent of at least two of said Fire and |
Police Commissioners; and of |
at least four of eaid Board
of Public Works; and all of the
said contrac 8 30 sn'ered into shall be
signed by all Of the contracting pr.
ties, and recorded in q well bound
book, opeu to the inspection OF tax
payers a. all times. And the Board
OF Fire and Police Commissioners are
further required to submit 10 the
Board of Public Works a statement in
writing of the estimate OF the cost OF
the prop osed work to be done, mate
rial TO be furnished, or service to bs
rendered, and this must receive the
written sanction of az least four mem
hers Of the Board of Public Works bs-
fore any contracts over 800 can be ad-
vertised or undertaken. We find from
the proof before US that the present
eff 1ials Of the Taxing District have
pad no attention to these provisions
Of the charter, and that all of the con-
tracts for paving streets and alleys,and
for the purchase of IN aterial, such az
stone, gravel, sand, etc., during the
past tive We months, have been made
ia utter disregard of the law on III s
subject; and 30 far as we are advised
this has been the case for the psst
three years or more. ALI the work for
paving, etc, as above stated, has been
made ard let out without advertising
for bids, without the assent in writing
OF at Il a5t two of tine Board of Fire and
: Police Commissioners, and of at least
four of the Board OF Public Works, as
eDj lined by law, and without esti-
mates in writing made or written sp-
prevails thereof by the Board Ct Puo-
lie Works, as the Taxing District char
ter requires. Indeed, it appears from
the evidence before us that the p esi.
dent OF the Board OF Fire and Police
Commissioners and the executive off
Ger of the Taxing District has assn me d
to make, and has in fact himself made,
all contracts without regard to the
amount Of the same, for the yesr
or two at least, and has not in 60 doing
required the written consent Of at
least Two of ths members of the
Board of FIRE and Police Commission.
ers and four Of the members oil
:. the Board OF Pablo Worke, and hae
1 not advertised for bids and has not
4 kept the contracts in a book, open
a to the inspection OF the taxpayers
: etc. The conduc' of the officers
= Of the Taxing District in thus
Q neglecting their duty aud permitting
q the law to be set aside, is reprehensi.
= BILE in the extreme; and The willful and
: intentional violation Of these eafo'
9 gurads Of the pubic by the president o.
i. the Taxing District in making contracts
: for large amounts of money to be ex
j. pended by the Taxing District, and in
Q assuming the right And authority tC
q do 30, is without warrant of law, I'M
Q Just, unfair and injurious in the high
,. est degree to the public interests. II
1t is not known who may occupy at any
is time that responsible position; and
Is the safety OF e.public lies in strict
% and rigid enforcement OF the duties Of
b the officials of ths Taxing District gov
/. eminent because II the law controlling
n its officers is not enforced, its charter
Is provisions are not strictly observed
T. instead of being a splendid govern
r. ment, conducted for the public good
70 it will become an unmitig ated evi, anC
+ intolersble TO the people. 1t being
our duty 10 examine into the STAIR
ID OF the Taxing District, We necessarily
,r gained an insight into the genera
y system OF government, or knowl
Ie edge OF the sct OF the L'gisla
n ture creating the came, and we in
" doree most heartily the wisdom
Is displayed in its creation. The system
g, Of government ia good one, and whel
rs the, provisions of the law are fully oh
ls served, the good intended by it
of founders ia apparent. 1t may, liz
ID any other coed system, be abused. l
ye should, however, be our constant ain
b. to prevent this. We find the charle
is of lbe Taxing District also prohib!l
le any member of the Taxing Dietrit
IN boards ftom becoming interested, d
i'd rectly or indirectly, nearly or remote
u in any contracts made with To
n municipal government. We find froI
of the proof, we regret to report, that tn
n. president of the Taxing District, VIII
.ir 10 a member of the Fire and Polio
nd 6ommlssionesr,b has frequently violate
these charter PROVISIONS, and has mad
contracts with the Taxing Distrl
by which his property has bee
improved and he benefited, throug
he period of severs. years, q
cording to the evidence befol
ed us. The law OF the Taxing DistriC
he designed for the protection Of the pu
eg lie, would be of no avail, if euch abus
ng and offsnses go unpunished. III
IN, conduct Of the president of the Taxir
he District in these respects, acc )rding
S6 the evidence before us, deserves 8
We we're condemnation. Public office
ne should obey the law.
X We were also instructed to inVes
lis gate the condition OF the county atfai
'us and of all county officers; but on a
ort count of our time being otherwise OF
on cially consumed, we have been uuab
lily to make such Investigations
90. We recommend that full Invests
5es ton be made of the affairs of the Ia
ng lug District, and Of the county aud
ng all county officers, by subs quent gIa
les juTiee.
an To your honor We tender our @
rn- acknowledgements for courtesies
ing ceived, as also Attorney Gener
we Peters for his courtesies, and to
he officers of the court.
10 p. g, Meath, Foreman.
nd, Joseph Elliott, Clerk
he A,C. Roark, W. A. Ammons.
on ID LarRip, Il. Reynolds,